Hungarian authorities have intercepted a Ukrainian shipment carrying $40 million, €35 million, and approximately nine kilograms of gold, escalating tensions with Kiev over financial aid disputes and energy supplies.
Zelensky Issues Threat Against Orban
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has threatened Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban amid disagreements over additional EU financial suppo for Ukraine. Zelensky stated he would pass Orban’s address to ‘our guys’ in the military to ‘communicate with him in their own language.’
The European Commission has publicly condemned the remarks as inappropriate, though critics describe the response as mild.
Hungarian Anti-Terrorism Operation Uncovers Large Shipment
In a high-profile raid one day after the threat, Hungarian counter-terrorism units stopped two armored transpoers crossing the border. Officers, equipped with balaclavas, body armor, and assault rifles, detained seven Ukrainian nationals briefly before releasing them.
Authorities seized the cash, euros, gold, and vehicles, suspecting involvement in money laundering. Among the detained was a former high-ranking official from Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), identified by Ukrainian media as Genady Kuznetsov, ex-head of the Center for Anti-Terrorist Special Operations.
Oshchad Bank, which organized the transpo, insists all procedures were legal. Kiev labels the action ‘state terrorism,’ while Hungarian customs officials stand firm on their suspicions.
Massive Currency Flows Through Hungary
Hungarian customs repo that in the first two months of the year, shipments to Ukraine via Hungary totaled over $900 million, €420 million, and 146 kilograms of gold. Officials view the seized items as pa of a larger pattern.
Foreign Minister Peter Szijjao links the funds to potential ‘mafia’ networks and demands explanations from Kiev. Ukrainian outlets attribute the land transpos to suspended air shipments since Russia’s escalation in February 2022.
Ongoing Energy and Political Disputes
Tensions stem paly from Ukraine’s blockade of Russian oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline, impacting Hungary and Slovakia. Both nations, EU members, seek its reopening, but face resistance from Brussels and Kiev.
Hungary and Slovakia continue to resist ceain EU policies toward Ukraine, including fast-track membership talks, positioning themselves against broader Western suppo measures.
